Well, plenty. Plenty more despicable. Obviously. Just last week, Rick Perry, speaking at the National Right to Life Convention (where he incidentally also said “no life is trivial in God’s eyes” just hours after an execution took place), decided to attack Wendy Davis personally, saying, “Even the woman who filibustered the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances. She was the daughter of a single woman, she was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas senate. It is just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters.” That’s right. Perry—a man who can’t even count to three—presumed to say that a Harvard Law graduate “hasn’t learned from her own example.” This guy. This guy!

Davis responded by saying that Perry’s statement “is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view.” And, of course, she is absolutely right. Perry’s remarks are indicative of nothing more than a man who lives life with blinders on, a condescending man who sees the issue of abortion in such a binary way that he doesn’t even believe it should be an option in cases of rape or incest. But beyond that, Perry’s remarks also betray how little he understands about what it actually means to be a mother—teenage or otherwise—in a state (and country, frankly) that doesn’t provide adequate support for parents in lower income brackets. Perry’s implication that because Davis, who is by all accounts an extraordinary woman, was able to go from being a single mother to a graduate of Harvard Law School, then anyone can do it. But he doesn’t take into account the fact that, when Davis was beginning her education, there was more government money for community colleges and students could take out loans without tens of thousands of dollars hanging in debt over their heads, and, oh yeah, Planned Parenthood funding hadn’t been so completely dismantled that low-income women have practically no options for affordable healthcare while pregnant.

Iverson says:
So not only are Dewhurst, Perry, and the rest of the conservative members of the Texas State legislature trying to silence women when it comes to both reproductive freedoms and government participation, but they are outright crowing about it.

Silence? What makes some people claim the legislative process itself, the democratic actions at the heart of our government, is something else? The “else” being some kind of oppressive machinery that gags those whose arguments aren’t persuasive enough to win a majority of votes?

Iverson says:
How much more patronizing and despicable can these men be?

The sign of a first-rate debater is her quick descent into ad hominem assaults on those with whom she disagrees.

“Perry…a condescending man who sees the issue of abortion in such a binary way that he doesn’t even believe it should be an option in cases of rape or incest. “

Firar, more invective. Second, no logic. Just like you can’t be a little bit pregnant, you can’t be a little bit un-pregnant.

Iverson says:
“But beyond that, Perry’s remarks also betray how little he understands about what it actually means to be a mother—teenage or otherwise—in a state (and country, frankly) that doesn’t provide adequate support for parents in lower income brackets. “

Based on the preceding, apparently Iverson believes pregnancy and parenthood should entitle a person to a paycheck. Is it news to anyone that the more you pay people to fornicate, the more they’ll do it?

It’s the law according to HIPAA, which adds more headaches to the situation.

Iverson says:
“One of the reasons that women’s health issues are capable of creating so much controversy is because much of what is being debated is whispered about between family and friends and occurs behind closed doors. ”

Behind closed doors? Silly me. I thought women’s healthcare and abortion was discussed in every media venue, every court, every blog and almost every setting where more than one person can be found.

Iverson says:
“Women’s bodies are still a mystery and women’s healthcare is still full of secrets. “

Mystery? Women’s bodies? Who are you trying to kid? Secrets? What secrets about women’s healthcare exist?
Really? Do you just make this stuff up as you go along?

Thank you for sharing your story. One of the things that frustrates me the most about anti-choice politicians and advocates is their complete lack of compassion and concern for the women making these choices, and the circumstances that contribute to WHY they make these choices.